Electricity
Resistance of a Wire Required Practical
To investigate how the length of a wire affects its resistance and explain how to make the test fair.

What you will learn

How to set up the wire-resistance experiment

Which variables to change and keep the same

How to measure voltage and current accurately

How to calculate resistance for different wire lengths

How to interpret results and reduce heating errors
Explanation
Vary wire length while controlling material, cross-sectional area and temperature. Measure current and p.d. for each length and calculate R = V/I. For a uniform wire at constant temperature, resistance increases in direct proportion to length; disconnect between readings to limit heating. Example: Interpret lengths 0.2 m and 0.4 m with resistances 2 Ω and 4 Ω. Doubling length doubles resistance; these data support proportionality if the other variables are controlled. Distinguish the quantities.
